Gtjstav wiltringhaus



(No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 1 G. WILLRINGHAUS.

K TRAVELING BAG. No. 517,181.

Patented Mar. 2'7

Fo'y.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

-(No Model.)

l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. WILLRINGHAUS.

TRAVELING BAG.

No. 517,181. Patented Mar; 27,1894.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrrcn.

GUSTAV VVIL LRINGI-IAUS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GUSTAVBERNHEIM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRAVELINGBAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,181, dated March27, 1894.

App filed December 19, 1893- Serial No. 494,125- (No model- T0 at whomit may concern: I

Be it known that I, GUSTAVWILLRINGHAUS, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traveling-Bags, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction of traveling-bags ofthe type generally known to the trade as cabinet-bags. I-Ieretofore,however, such bags have been constructed with cover-jaws consisting ofmetallic frames having side-wings and which are pivoted in such a mannerthat they will swing upwardly and outwardly from the middle of the bag,these jaws being ordinarily hinged at the opposite ends of what areknown as distending-bars located at the ends of the mouth or opening ofthe bag. When bags of that type are open there is a large amount ofspace occupied by the covers, and besides, when the jaws are beingopened they are not always permitted a free movement, either by reasonof the stiffness of the body material which is formed integral with thecover-sections, or because of the pressure of the contents of the bagupon its sides. Also, if the covers do not open freely, there is greatdanger of too much pressure being exerted thereon, so that eventuallythe strength of their connections becomes very much impaired. Thesedistending-bars, the metallic jaw-frames and their hinges, add greatlyto the expense of the bag,but cannot wellbe done away with incabinet-bags as heretofore constructed.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide a bag in which thejaws and their attached covers will occupy a minimum of space whenopened, and in which the contents of the bag cannot retard the freeopening of the jaws, nor will there be a liability to the connections ofthe jaws becoming weakened.

Other objects are to oheapen the construction of the above-noted classof bags by entirely avoiding the necessity of the distendin g-bars, toutilize the simple ordinarily-constructed jaws of a common hand-satchel,thus avoiding the necessarily expensive metallic frames and wings ofsaid class of bags, and

generally to produce a neat, serviceable, and convenient form of bag.

To these ends my invention consists in a traveling-bag having a box-likebody and two covers, the latter being so hinged or pivoted to the endsof the body between the sides thereof that they are adapted to swingoutwardly, across the top of the box-like body, and downwardly as theyare opened, and upwardly and inwardly as they are closed; and myinvention consists in certain other features of construction to behereinafter described and then particularized in the claims.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceedto describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of my improvedtraveling-bag, showing the same in closed and open position,respectively. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical transverse sections, showingthe bag in closed and open position, respectively, the straps beingomitted. Fig. 5 is a broken detail section on line 55, Fig. 4. Figs. 6and 7 are endviews of a modified construction.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the box-like body A is shown of oblong shape,comprising parallel sides a, and parallel ends 17. The body ispreferably made of leather, but it may be made of any other material,such as canvas. The best results are attained by making the body andespecially the ends of stiff or reinforced material, although the sidesof the body may be made of quite flexible material, if desired. The opentop of the body is closed or covered over by a pair of covers D D whichmeet at the middle when closed, each covering one half of the body.These covers are stiffened or strengthened in any suitable way, and arepivoted at their ends to the ends of the body A between the sidesthereof. They may both be pivoted on the same axis as in Figs. 1 to 5,or in different axes as in Figs. 6' and 7. In opening the bag the coversswing outwardly, exposing between them the entire width of the bag body,or nearly so, as-1oo shown in Figs. 4 and 7.

According to the preferred construction the covers are strengthened andfinished at their meeting -edges, where they come together when closed,by means of jaws or frames 0 C, which may be of the same construction asthe well-known satchel-frames. The ends of these jaws serve foreffecting the hinge connections of the covers to the bag body and to aplate E, fastened to each end of the bag body, by means of pivot-pins orscrews E. The plates E are preferably fastened to the ends of the bodyby rivets e and washers e. The pivot-pins or screws E project outwardlyfrom the plates, receive the perforated ends or hinge-eyes of the jaws,and retain the latterin place by means of the head 6 and washer a asshown in Fig.5. The jaws are thus firmly mounted without interferingwith their ability to swing freely when required in the opening orclosing movement of the covers. It is of course evident that other meansof mounting the pivot-pins and I do not limit myself to the particularconstruction shown; and, in fact, it is evident that many other means ofhinging the jaws to the ends may be resorted to by skilled mechanics,without departing from the scope of my invention.

Small pieces or gussets C are utilized to form the ends of the covers DD, they being secured thereto by suitable stitching, not necessary to beshown. Side-flaps C depend from the covers below their end-gusset's Oand when exterior side-pockets F are provided, they are adapted toconstitute the closing flaps thereof. The coversD D are made in separatepieces and not directly connected with the body of the bag, except bythe hingeconnections at the ends. A suitable lock,

such as G, secures the closing-jaws in closed position, and tofacilitate opening them a finger-pieceg attached to one jaw and a bandleg attached to the other jaw are provided. The form andconstruction ofthese parts may however, be varied at the pleasure of the manufacturer.

When the jaws C, O, are closed some means should be provided forsteadying them and the covers and preventing their tipping to one sideor wabbling. For this purpose I find the straps, such as h, secured tothe top of the body are very serviceable, and in fact they arepreferable, as they both steady said parts, when they are connected bybuckles 7L2, and hold the side-flaps 0 down against the side-pocketssoas to securely close them. If desired, additional means for steadyingthe covers and preventing them from rocking too far to one side when thejaws are closed, and before said straps are connected, may be provided,as by connecting the inner sides of the coverswith the body by flexiblewebs [1. Generally speaking both the straps h and webs l-I may be termedflexible stays. In opening the bag the straps are either loosened ordisconnected aud the lock unfastened, so that by pulling thefinger-piece g and the handle g Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate thismodification,

it open.

the jaws and the attached covers may be separated, whereby they arecaused to move outwardly and downwardly over the mouth of the body, theside-flaps C being caused to slide or move downwardly upon the sides ofthe body.

It may sometimes be desirable to button the flaps G to the sides of thebody instead of employing straps, or if no outside pockets are providedthe straps of the body may be.

instead. at the ends of the body can be resorted to,

It, is not essential to my invention in its broader respect that thecovers shall be pivoted to the ends of the bag through the medium oftheir closing-jaws, as by employing suitably strong stiffening materialin theiend gussets (J O of the covers the pivotal connections may bemade directly with these end gussets instead of with the jaws or frames.Fig. closed and Fig. 7 showing The jaws or frames are here our ployedfor the purpose of stiffening the meet- 6 showing the bag ing-edges ofthe covers but are not extended down to the pivots, and instead ofpivoting the covers upon a single hinge-pin at each end in the middle,two hinge-pins are employed, slightly separated, the effect of which isto throw the covers when opened somewhat wider apart than in theconstruction first described. The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is,however, considered preferable to this modification by reason of itsgreater strength, stiffness and simplicity.

It is evident that myimprovements arealso applicable to trunks and otherlike receptacles, and I therefore do not limit myself to traveling-bags.

Having thus i described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with. a box-like body, oftwo covers hinged at their ends to the ends and between the sides of thebody and provided with depending side-flaps adapted to slide upon thesides of the body, as said covers are being-opened or closed,substantially as set forth.

2: The combination, with a box-like body having an exterior side-pocket,of two covers hinged to the ends of the body between the sides thereof,and a side-flap depending from one of said covers, and adapted to closesaid pocket, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a box-like body having stiifened ends, ofclosing-jaws pivotally connected with the ends of the body, and

IIO

covers attached to said jaws and provided with end-pieces or gussets,located at the outer sides of the ends of the body, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with a box-like body, of two covers hinged at theirends and between the sides to the ends of the body, and flexible staysconnecting the body and covers, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a box-like body, of covers hinged at their endsto the ends of the body and providedwith side-flaps which slide upon thesides of the body, when the covers are opened or closed, and staysconsisting of straps attached to the body and cov- In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV WILLRINGHAUS. Witnesses:

GEO. L. WHEELOCK, K. R. BRENNAN.

